Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

For 60 years now, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has been nearly as ingrained in American Christmas culture as Santa Claus.

Like the current image of Santa Claus, Rudolph was a creation of corporate America. In the late 1930s, Robert L. May created Rudolph while working for the Montgomery Ward chain of department stores. May created the classic American underdog story with Rudolph. Born with a big red, glowing nose, Rudolph was made fun of by his peers, only to save Christmas for the children when Santa called on him to lead the reindeer on "one foggy Christmas Eve."

When Rudolph was created, the United States was still in difficult economic times. The American people also faced being underdogs themselves to the rising powers of Nazi Germany and the Japanese war machine. Further, the political and cultural leaders of the time championed the so called "little man," making ripe a story about a little reindeer who used a God given gift to overcome ridicule and his awkwardness to save the day.

As such, Rudolph became a growing part of American culture at Christmas. Rudolph's stature rocketed in the 1949, when legendary cowboy crooner Gene Autry recorded a song written by Johnny Marks entitled, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." At the time the song was recorded, American G.I.'s from World War II were settling down and raising families. There were millions of so called "little guys" who had saved the day for America and freedom starting to play Santa Claus to their kids. The story of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer became the best way to tell the American story of overcoming adversity to save the day for children.

As such, the song was an incredible hit. The song has been recorded by a score of artists. Cartoons and movies have been made about Rudolph. Books have been written adapting the story. Today, parents wanting to get their little ones to bed for Santa's big moment claim to see Rudolph's shining red nose in the sky.

Here is a clip of the original song sung by Gene Autry that brought the can do spirit of the American underdog to the Christmas tradition.